Barefoot in the Woods

Pages

Friday, January 11, 2013

In the midst of having a newborn and adjusting to being a stay at home mom, Cameron and I decided to launch a website to bring in a little extra money. Last week we finally got it done and had multiple customers this week! Very exciting for us and promising for our future. But on Wednesday this week, Cameron came home with some unexpected news, we had been offered the opportunity to purchase the coffee shop he is currently manager at.

It is something we have dreamed of.

For the past two years we have talked about and dreamt of someday owning a restaurant, cafe or bakery. We never expected the opportunity to come so soon. Not only is the opportunity here, but at a fraction of cost of what we would have to pay for our own start up and an already profiting business.

We are extremely excited, and nervous about this huge purchase. To me, it's like standing on the edge of a boulder looking down at the water. All your friends are yelling "jump!" and all you have to do is step off. But it's a huge step.

I am thrilled to document this journey here and truly can't wait to see how it will all unfold.

Monday, December 31, 2012

I'm finally back. After months of silence, I finally have the words to explain all that has been going on in my life.

On Easter Sunday, Cameron and I found out that we were expecting. We were thrilled and optimistic, although our three pervious miscarriages were in the backs of our minds. Two weeks later, I began bleeding and was put on bed rest and then hormones to help us stay pregnant. I was constantly ill (morning sickness my butt) and had extreme back pain from dance injuries.

I went on maternity leave at 28 weeks and began bleeding again. I was put on bed rest again, but at 30 weeks I went into labor. After a few hours of contractions (I didn't realize that I was having contractions, I thought I may have food poisoning) I called my midwife and within the next few hours I was at the hospital. Rhoden Caeden was born October 21st at 11:20 in the morning. He weighed just over 3 pounds, but I was able to cuddle him before they rushed him to the NICU.

He spent 3 days in NICU and 26 in ICN before coming home just before Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for, blessed by, in awe of and in love with my sweet little boy. He has turned our world upside down for the better. I am now a stay at home mom and Cameron and I are getting ready to launch our own business.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Cameron and I are entering a new season here, not just weather wise. We are finally moving!

After months of saying "We need to move" and planning, two weeks ago we declined our release. Soooooo...we will be moving in July! We have already found an adorable cottage that we are hoping to get, so keep your fingers and toes crossed for us. :)

This move has made it obvious just how much stuff we have accumulated. You know those things you never use and likely have forgotten you even have? We have an entire bedroom full of those. This is a good reason to have a small home with only as many bedrooms as you need. If you don't have space for it, it won't even make it through the door (precisely why we are downsizing). I'll be sure to pass on any tips of tricks I discover while downsizing and moving!

In other news, I have been doing a lot of reading of Steiner's infant to 2 years philosophies. His understanding of children truly amazes me. As an example: I am a nanny for 7 month old twins (a girl and a boy). Their parents have bought them 2 swings, 2 bouncers, a jumper, 2 play gyms, a play mat and countless toys, infant books and other bright (usually plastic) items. Despite all of this entertainment, the babies often cry when put into the swing or on the play mat? Why? They much prefer to be held! While no one could be expected to hold a baby (let alone two) all the time, why do so many parents opt to try to entertain the child with another toy when he cries instead of simply picking him up and cuddling him for a few minutes? To quote the mother I work for: "I am afraid they will be 'lap spoiled' or 'clingy'."

I understand the sentiment, believe me, but I can't help but wonder how all the flashing, bright, noisy toys are affecting our children. If we look at what Steiner says on the subject, he believed children's toys should be limited under 2 years to items from nature and simple homemade items. He believed in a calm and quiet environment and frequent cuddling and nursing. How different is this from what we commonly see in homes today?

To me, it seems like we are trying to force our children to grow up faster. "I can't wait until he can sit up/crawl/stand/walk/feed himself" are comments I often hear from parents. Why? So that we can have our lives back? Children are a blessing, by having them we choose to alter our lives to better nurture and raise them. I hate to say it, but after having a child, your life is never yours again. Even after the child leaves the house, I know I frequently call home to ask for advice or assistance in some manner or other.

While we're on the subject, if you have a small infant, please, enjoy these days. Cherish nursing or bottle feeding her. Don't rush her to eat oatmeal or baby food when she is obviously not ready (if your baby cannot sit unassisted her gut has not developed enough to properly digest food). I will certainly post more about this later as I have some wonderful resources and references.

Before I close I would like to ask my readers to please suggest and topics they may like to have me write about. I'm always open for ideas and would love to know what you are interested in!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Every year around this time I am reminded of how lucky I am to be alive.

In April 2009, my best friend and I were attacked by my ex-husband. He and I had separated following the death of our son and a long history of abuse. While none of my injuries were severe, to this day I still deal with frequent headaches and backaches from being slammed into walls, doors and furniture. Without my best friend, I would not be alive. I have no doubt that if I had been alone, my ex-husband would have killed me, he had every intent to do me severe harm.

Many of my family and friends have never heard about what my marriage was like, nor do they know the reason I finally left.

In July 2008 my ex-husband and I had an argument regarding his relationship with one of my friends and his lack of being home. During this argument, he shoved me and I fell into a wall. I was holding our 5 month old son at the time, his little head hit the wall. I had finally had enough and packed his things (and a few of mine) to send to his mother's house. I honestly don't know if he stayed there during the next few weeks, but on August 26th he stayed with us and the next morning our son was dead.

Abuse is something you rarely see happen, but often you see the repercussions. Very few people ever saw my bruises, but many saw me withdrawing and isolating. If you ever think that someone you know is being abused, or if you are being abused yourself, tell someone. Get help. Because it's not an "if something bad happens" its a "when something bad happens" kind of situation. Abuse always ends badly, and unfortunately it's generally bad for the victim.

In Virginia we have a "3 strikes" kind of law. If you are caught being abusive once, you must go to classes and complete 6 months probation. It's almost impossible for the victim to get a protective order even for a few weeks. If the abuser then moves on to another girl and is charged with abusing her, it's his first strike again. Generally, the abuser creates a string of 3, 4, or 5 victims before the state finally says "Enough!". Virginia is not the only state like this.

In the news today was this story. This woman was lucky enough to escape, but how many other women are living this same story today? How many of them will die before our country steps up and finally says "We will not tolerate abuse!"? Please, help break the cycle...change a woman's, child's, man's life today.

In love, light and honor,

Audrey

PS. I just wanted to note that the man in the story I posted was released on bail. His original $750,000 bail was reduced to $100,000. He is out and wandering the streets today. This happens all too often...it's almost no wonder that we have repeat offenders and that so many women go back to these men. Even the police can't or won't protect abuse victims. And by the way, did anyone see the story about the young man that tried to give his ex-girlfriend an abortion by jumping on her stomach? I don't know if he was released on bail as well, but men like this are out there. And just in case you think I'm being sexist, a woman in Texas recently scalded her newborn until his skin was "bubbling" and another woman recently killed her husband claiming he had been abusive (although it was later found that she had been having an affair). Abuse spans all race and gender lines, and we can do something to stop it.

Monday, April 16, 2012

One of our family's favorite television shows is Stargate. After watching an episode the other night I started thinking about the way the United States, and the world in general, reacts to the unknown, the scary or the "undesired".

In Stargate there is a race known as the Nox. They are complete pacifists, using illusion as their defense. In many episodes, they (along with other advanced aliens) can be seen reprimanding the US Airforce for being "young" and having a "shoot first ask questions later" first reaction.

This past week, North Korea launched a test missile. It supposedly was not a weapon, only a satellite. Prior to this launch, the United States and North Korea had been discussing food and medical aid that the North Koreans desperately need. Since the missile launch, all talks have stopped.

Now, before I go on a rant about how the people and the government officials are two different entities and that the people should not be punished for the North Korean officials decisions, I will first say I hope the United States reconsiders their decision and that the North Korean government will in the future put their people first.

That being said, I am a pacifist at heart which is probably the reason I love the Nox. I can't help but wonder what will happen to the United States if we continue to have the reaction to invade first, get information later. What happens when we step on the wrong country's toes? What happens when we no longer have the funds or the resources to support invasion?

If we look back into history, all world powers come to an end. In general, those that support their power through invasion tend to fall harder and faster.

Let's go back to the North Korea situation for a moment. When North Korea announced they were going to be testing a missile, before the United Nations even knew what it was, several countries (including the US) announced they would end relations with North Korea if they launched the missile. I understand that relations with North Korea have been volatile for years, however, if the United States had known that the missile was a satellite (and failed by the way) maybe they wouldn't have taken away the much needed food and medical aid from the North Korean people. A small example of how an "ask questions later" knee jerk reaction can have bigger and unsavory consequences.

Just something to think about...

In love and light,

Audrey

PS. If we quickly think back to the Nox, they feel responsible to teach the United States because as a nation and world we are "young". They do so gently and with humor. As an older and more experienced nation, isn't it our duty to treat North Korea and other nations with the same respect? And on a side note...how about how we treat our children? Think about it and please feel free to leave a comment...

Sunday, April 1, 2012

*This is a rewrite of a post I originally deleted. Pictures will follow soon...my smartphone is being rather stupid at the moment ;)

Cameron and I have decided to not celebrate traditional holidays in our home.

Yes this will ruffle some feathers, but we're not having Christmas at out house, nor Halloween or Easter.

We are, however, celebrating the beginnings of each season, birthdays, Independence Day and a few other events here and there.

After watching all the commercials for Christmas this past year (did anyone else notice that they started advertising in September???), followed by commercials for sales for New Year's, Valentine's day, Saint Patrick's day and now Easter, we felt overwhelmed by the commercialism of it all. How have the holidays gotten so far away from what the original point was? When did gifts become so important?

Growing up, I remember that Santa brought presents for the stockings (which were always practical things like socks and underwear) and maybe 3 gifts for under the tree. We got usually one present from each family member with gifts from our parents always being a new outfit. Easter we got one practical gift, a book or game that tied into school. When did it become normal for parents to max out not one, but 3 credit cards for just Christmas?

We are in a transition season, of course this will take time. Another reason we have decided to do this is that our nuclear family celebration will always be on a different day than that of our extended family and the masses. There will never be any scheduling conflicts. Six events throughout the year will be gift giving: two equinoxes, two solstices, birthdays and anniversaries. All gifts will either be bought second hand, on extreme sale or made (actually we're trying to make this a rule for daily life as well).

As we grow together and children are introduced, we hope that the holidays will be a time for reflection, thanksgiving and love. We want our future children to remember that Spring is a time of rebirth, of Christ and the world around us. It is a time for second chances, to begin anew with a clean slate. So while at home, we will not be participating in Santa or the Easter Bunny, we will certainly not keep our children away from these concepts when with extended family. We will still participate in the Christmas Eve dinners, egg hunts and the general excitement that comes from holidays with large families. And don't worry, while Santa may not visit our house, King Winter (popular in old stories and the Waldorf schools) will. To us, it is the simplicity that matters. And to paraphrase a letter to a little girl named Virginia, "Yes Virginia, Santa does exist. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion abound..."